Wrench



MICIEIAELvCfDILLON, 0F WILLISTON, NORTH DAKOTA.

WRENCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 15, 1921.

Application led April 6, 1920. Serial No. 371,598.

To @ZZ whom t may concern Be it known that I, MICHAEL C. DILLON, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Villiston, in the county of Williams and State of North Dakota, have invented new and useful Improvements in lYrenches, of which the following is a speciiication.

This invention comprehends the provision of a quick acting wrench, wherein the handle is provided with a spring actuated rod which controls the pivoted locking element from the movable jaw, in ainanner whereby the latter can be easily and quickly ad- `iusted with relation to the fixed j aw, subsequently locking it in a given position.

The nature and advantages of the invention will be better understood when the following detailed description is read in connection with the accompanying drawings, the invention residing in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts as claimed.

In the drawings formingpart of this application, like numerals'of reference indicate similar parts in the several views, and wherein:

lFigure l is a longitudinal sectional view of the wrench showing the parts in active position.

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the locking parts in position for adjusting the movable j aw. y

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. l. y

Referring to the drawings in detail, 30 indicates the handle of the wrench, at one end of which is arranged a fixed jaw 3l. The handle is provided with a looped extension 32 through which slides the shank 33 of the movable jaw 34. The lower longitudinal edge of the shank 33 is notched as at 35. The notches 35 are adapted to receive the offset rounded extremity 36 of the pivoted locking element 37 which has one end 38 `weighted. -The weighted extremity 38 normally maintains the oifset portion 36 of the locking element positioned in one of the notches 35 of the shank 33.

For the purpose of eiiectingrthe release of the shank 33 when it is desired to adjust the movable jaw with relation to the fixed jaw, I provide a rod 40 arranged to reciprocate in an opening 41 in the handle 30. One end of the rod 40 is connected as at 42 with a substantially L-shaped lever 43 pivoted above the handle as at 44 and having one of its branches disposed at one side of the handle as shown. The free end of the rod 40 is provided with a straight passage 45 having an inclined surface 46. As shown in Fig. l when the bars are arranged in active position, the locking element 37 rests upon the straight surface 45 of the rod 40, while the inclined surface 46 is arranged in juxtaposition to the weighted end 38 ofthe locking element. The spring 47 has one end secured to the rod 40 and the'opposite end to the handle 35 to hold the rod 40 normally in the position shown in Fig. l.

lVhen it is desired to eect the release of the shank 33, and thus permit movement of the jaw 34 with relation to the jaw 3l, the lever 43 moves toward the handle 30 thereby exgagement with the weighted extremity 38 of the locking element, moving the latter on its pivot to disengage the offset extremity 36 from Vthe shank 33. |This adjusted position of parts is clearly shown in Fig. 2.` When pressure is released from the lever 43, the spring 47 functions to move the rod within the handle toward the Ajaw 3l, or in other words to return the rod to its normal position. As the inclined surface 46 is moved away from the weighted extremity 38 of the locking element, said extremity serves to move the element'upon its pivot to return the offset extremity 36 into one of the notches 35. The wrench is very simple in construction and can be readily andv easily manipulated as the occasion requires.

While it is believed that from the foregoing description the nature and advantages of the invention will be readily apparent, I desire to have it understood that I do not limit myself in the details shown and 'described, and that such changes may be resorted to when desired as fall within the scope of what is claimed.

IVhat I claim is r,

l. A. wrench comprising a handle having a fixed jaw,l a movable jaw including a shank arranged parallel to the handle, a locking element pivoted on said handle and designed to coperate with said shank for holding the movable jaw in a Given position, a spring-actuated rod for efiecting the release of said movable jaw, said rod being mounted for sliding movement longitudinally of the handle and having a cam-like surface copel'ating with the pvoted locking element, and means for sliding said rod. 2. A Wrench comprising a handle having a fixed jaw, said handle being recessed longitudinally, a movable jaw including a sha-nk arranged parallel to the handle, a locking element pvoted within the recess formed in the handle and designed to engage the shank to hold the movable jaw n a given position, a spring-actuated rod for effecting the release of the said movable jaw, said rod being arranged in the recess of the handle and mounted for vsliding movements therein, a cam-like surface formed on the rod and eoperating with the pivotal 4locking element, and a manipulating element `pvoted on the handle and connected with said rod for sldnoj the latter.

l aX my signature. 20

In testimonyv whereof a MICHAEL C. DILLON.` 

